Here we are, December twenty first, twenty twelve. End of the world? We'll see soon enough. But you're not here for that. You're here to see what happened to Mao after that cliffhanger last time. He was hurt, transformed, and changed back, no worse for the wear. Or, is that the case… Let's take a look.
Disclaimer: I, Lord Genesis Shadow, do not own the rights to Digimon.
…
"I'm not sure what happened…" Arthur said. "C-can you… I can't understand this stuff." I heard movement, but didn't open my eyes.
"I think, I can somewhat understand this." A woman said. "It seems he's, absorbed X Antibody data. It's rare these days, but, it changes some Digimon into a slightly more powerful form… It seems that the X Antibody in Mao is, modified. I'm not sure what changes there are, but… Your Optimizer says, that your first scan created a small amount of it, and, when Mao was hurt, there was a spike in power, and the new data took root. Look here…" I slowly opened my eyes to see Arthur holding the screen out, and I could see an image of myself, but, at the same time, it wasn't me. "GunImpmon X. Three inches taller, limbs lengthened to compensate, color distortion, and… Even his clothing changed color. When he picked up his revolver, it, like Mao himself, changed with the data."
"S-so, that was, an X Antibody…" He said quietly. "Nothing else changed?"
"No, a lot changed." She said. "Look here. His attacks are even stronger. You said he could take down Champions with his Dark Rounds?" Arthur nodded as I slowly sat up. "Well, in this state, he's actually not too much more powerful, but his data is equivalent to a low level Champion. Very low, however, he could theoretically hold his own against Scott, but, it seems that this X Data is incompatible with copied attacks, or his body being 'Optimized'." When I fully sat up, I looked at my hands, my gloves. Memories flashed by from those moments. When I raised Baffle, I saw that my gloves had gone from black with red stitching to white with blue stitching. Baffle went from being dark gray, nearly black, to being, oily chrome almost. Even my skin was different, light blue. Looking at the Optimizer's screen, my neckerchief turned blue, and the star was black with something silver showing. "If we could get a scan of this, it would be very useful to figure out why it, triggered when it did, instead of right away, and why he reverted back."
"If I just knew how it worked in the first place." I said. They looked at me and stared as I put my hand to my shoulder, where I'd been shot. "Believe me, I'd love to know how to use that, Negative Mode."
"N-Negative…" Arthur said. "Mao, are you alright?" The woman looked at me and shined a bright light directly into my eyes, one after the other.
"All scans say he'll be fine." She said. "Just making sure of that."
"Does 'fine' mean I won't have to be blind in both eyes?" I asked as she moved back.
"You're lucky." She said. "If that X Antibody hadn't done what it did to you, you probably would have probably died from that attack. From what the Optimizer's status readings said, you were bleeding, badly, and had it not been for that sudden transformation, you would have bled out." I rubbed the spot.
"Yeah, lucky…" I said quietly. I looked up. "What about Scott and Daisy? Are they okay?"
"Yeah, they're fine." Arthur said. "Thanks to you dropping those DemiDevimon and that, that Dorumon…" He sighed. "Man, if you hadn't shot them, they might have chased after Daisy." He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. "Geeze, I was, I was worried there Mao. I thought for sure you were a goner. Wh-when you got up…" He gestured to me as he lowered the hat. "I just, I almost passed out. I thought you were going to just, sacrifice yourself, or something."
"I, didn't even have any real control…" I said quietly. "I just, got up, and, it was like I was, watching a movie or something. When I, said what I said… It was like, it wasn't me."
"It scared the fertilizer out of Daisy, I'll tell you that much." Arthur said. I fought a laugh, but nodded. "And Scott just went ballistic. He wanted me to wake you up just so he could knock you out again." I sighed before looking up at him.
"Do you have a helmet I can borrow, then?" I asked. He laughed and put his hat on my head.
"Here." He said. "Is he good to go?"
"Yes." She said. "He's healthy, and stronger than before. The code he absorbed made sure of that." I got up and Arthur held out Baffle, and I took the now normal gunmetal gray revolver, holstering it and jumping down. "Before you go, Mao, take it easy for a few days." I looked at her, but nodded. "Due to your injury, you're all off duty for a few days. So you won't have to worry about anything for a while."
"Come on, you crazy purple, Imp." Arthur said. He opened the door and walked out, and I followed him. As we walked, I saw that we were in the DGA medical wing. I'd been there only once for a scan of my data, and Arthur had a full checkup, which made him blush for about twenty minutes afterward. Ever since then, anytime he saw the female doctor that gave him the checkup, he just blushed right away. "Mao, what, was it like, that change? I mean, apart from, pretty much losing control?"
"I felt, stronger." I said. "It was like, I stepped into a whole new body… Kind of like, Digivolving from a Tin Yaamon to GunImpmon. It was, like that, but, different… Geeze, how to explain that one to a human." He laughed. "Think of it like this. It's like going from a dream, to being awake, and knowing it. One second, you're something else, something nothing like you were before, like a superhero." He nodded as I looked up at him. "Imagine that feeling, if you can." He smiled a little. "Then think about what it is to be yourself. It's the space between that. Going from a dream to reality, that was what it was like."
"What about Digivolving?" He asked.
"The same feeling between the change, but then it's just reality." I said. "And getting used to it is, kind of weird. I mean, when I was a Tin Yaamon, I didn't have arms or legs, and then I Digivolve and…" I held my arms out. "I'm walking around, grabbing stuff, because I can." He laughed. "Come on, it was like 'are these mine' one moment, and the next it's 'oh, oh yes, I can do something with these… And this gun'." He laughed as he opened a door and I walked out ahead of him, only to receive a swat to the head. It wasn't a hand, but it wasn't a wing either.
"That's for making us worry!" Daisy said. I felt something swat me over the head, so I covered myself quickly.
"That's for not telling us about that little transformation!" Scott said. I felt Percy pick me up.
"Hey, leave him alone, he just got up." He said. I was set on his shoulder, but I moved so that I could see the others. "But Mao, what was that back there?"
"Well, I don't, honestly know." I said, shrugging. "Apparently, X Data from that Dorumon… I guess. I hear Dorumon have X Antibodies far more often than any other Digimon. You know… Stuff happens."
"Still, you could have warned us." Percy said.
"It was as much a surprise to me." I said honestly. He slowly picked me up and set me down, but Daisy suddenly hugged me. "H-hey, personal space here."
"Mao, you're our friend." Ann said. I looked at her as she crouched. "You scared us when you, got hit like that. And then you got up, we didn't know you weren't still bleeding." She hugged me as well and I flailed my free arm.
"I was going to chew you out for being a hero." Scott said. "I was going to fly in, take out the Dorumon and DemiDevimon, but then you took them out. I was ready to yell at you. Your obvious discomfort now though… Don't push yourself. Just concentrate on healing if you can."
"Y-yeah…" I said. "Can't, breathe." The girls let go of me and I shivered a little.
"Mao, what's wrong with you?" Arthur asked. "Anytime someone hugs you, you just, act like you hate it."
"I don't like, being touched." I said quietly. Daisy laughed as Ann fixed the cap. "I blame you, Arthur. I didn't have friends for sixteen years, and then for a year it was you, me, your mom, and your little sister…" I held my arms out. "I haven't been hugged once except by your sister, and that was when she thought I was a toy!" They all laughed. "And now I'm being hugged again? Without warning…" Daisy hugged me again and I flailed my arms. "Oh, come on…"
"She was worried." Ann said. "We all were. Even Scott."
"Though he'd never admit it." Percy added. They all laughed, save Scott, who just looked away.
…
I drank the soda as Arthur looked over the new information. For once he was studying it to actually learn something important, not just to figure out some new thing. He wanted to know how the whole X transformation worked, and if I could do it at will somehow. Thus far, he was just quietly reading as I leaned back and drank my soda. Percy and Ann were playing chess while Scott meditated, and Daisy was sitting in the sun, just taking in the light while watching us all.
"Okay." Arthur said. "I think I've got it."
"Checkmate." Ann said as she stood up.
"Hang on now…" Percy said quickly. I looked over as he moved his hand and seemed in thought. "Uh… Darn, never mind. Checkmate indeed." She walked over as he got up.
"Apparently this only works in emergencies." Arthur said. "If you experience a major adrenaline surge, like, if you're really in danger and you've got your heart rate up high enough and you really need it, I can activate it, or you can if you can't reach me. But, there's a time limit. I don't know why, but after a while your body just, rejects it." I walked over and looked. "So you just, automatically, revert to normal. But this isn't all that bad. If you use it when you need it, you'll be a lot stronger in an emergency, and it pushes your body to the limit, way higher than what I can do with the Optimizer." I nodded as Percy put his hand to his chin.
"So, basically, this is like, a super adrenaline rush." I said.
"Yeah, more or less." He said.
"Great." Scott said. "When we're up against some Digimon that we can't handle, we'll have a surprise waiting for them."
"A little ace in the hole." I said. "I like it."
"So save it for when we really need it." He said. I nodded and drank more of the soda, and found that it was the last of it. "Just don't start thinking you can take on Ultimates now. You're strong, but you're not that strong."
"I know." I said. "But, I wonder what this means if I ever manage to go Champion."
"I shudder to think." Percy said. "A Rookie that can kill a Champion with a single well placed shot Digivolving to Champion? If Mao follows a pattern, next up, Ultimates are going to be his prey, oui?"
"Maybe." Daisy said. "But knowing Mao, I'm going to guess he'll say 'if I get the shot'." They looked at me and I pointed at her.
"What she said I'd say." I said. They laughed quietly, save for Scott, who just went on with his meditation. "But, seriously, it's not like I just go after Champions… Uh, Monochromon, Tyrannomon, and Greymon, and I guess Devimon excluded from that…" Arthur laughed as he lowered the Optimizer.
"It's not like Mao chases after stronger foes." He said. "It's just, if we can get the drop on bad Champion level Digimon, we'll take the risk, because other Tamers will show up. Even if they'd just be a distraction, that means an opening where Mao can put a Dark Round right where he needs it to go. Yeah, he's a Champion killer, but that doesn't make him a Champion hunter."
"Well put." Percy said, patting Arthur's back lightly.
"So, what now?" Ann asked. We were just in the courtyard, resting mostly. "We've got a few days off. There has to be something we can do together."
"I think something slow, just until we're sure Mao's good." Arthur said. Percy nodded as Scott got up.
"Knowing Mao, he's going to suggest an amusement park or something." Scott said.
"Actually, I think a movie would be nice." I said. Scott seemed surprised. "What?" Daisy and Ann laughed while Arthur put his hand on my head, rubbing the spot between my ears.
"Good thinking." He said. "What movies are playing?"
"Three Stooges!" Ann and Daisy said together.
"Three, what?" Percy and Scott asked together. Arthur and I looked at them.
"What?" We asked together. I looked at him and then we looked at the girls.
"Okay, this is getting creepy, let's talk one at a time." I said. Arthur laughed. "Okay, Percy, Scott, the Three Stooges are three guys, Larry, Moe, and Curly. Three close friends, closer in bond than brothers, but a bigger trio of idiots you will never find."
"It's slapstick humor at its finest, and no crude jokes to get a shock laugh." Arthur added.
"It's good clean fun." Ann said. "Just three guys doing normal things, making them difficult, and then they start bickering and slapping, poking, and hitting each other."
"Like this." I said, popping Arthur in the shin with a fake kick. He jumped up and hopped on one foot while holding his leg.
"And this." Ann said, pretending to slap him. He ran his hand down his face.
"And this." He said, pointing two fingers up. But as he went to poke her in the eyes she blocked him with her hand, laughing triumphantly before he held up his index fingers and got her from two angles, in the forehead, of course. She pretended to hold her face while stomping, so I kicked his shin again. The others laughed while we carried on for a few minutes before Arthur gestured to the van. "Let's see when the next showing is."
…
"Hey, shrimp!" A young voice called. I didn't look over. I was just standing on the tips of my toes as I pulled down a box of cereal and looked at it before walking toward the cart at the end of the aisle. Rice Krispies, to make treats for later. "Hey!" I jogged over when something grabbed my neckerchief, making me gag as my legs went out from under me. "I was talking to you, Virus!" I looked up to see, a Gabumon.
"Go away." I said. I got up but he grabbed my shoulder, turned me, and grabbed my neckerchief and held me up.
"I don't like viruses." He said coldly. "I'm going to delete you when my Tamer gets here." I narrowed my eyes.
"Buzz off, I've got a Tamer." I said.
"We don't care." A human said. "Viruses are all evil." I kicked the Gabumon in the stomach, making him back off as he let go of me. Baffle was in the minivan, so I couldn't just brandish it and scare them off, nor could I do that anyway because it was a public location.
"Leave me alone!" I said. "All I'm doing is minding my own business!"
"Little, punk!" The boy said. "Get him!"
"Blue Blaster!" The Gabumon called. I dodged the blue fire and heard a warning coming over the loudspeakers, but I just turned and ran, grabbing the cereal.
"Arthur!" I called. "Trouble!" I skidded and avoided another Blue Blaster that struck the meat counter, breaking the glass and making the butcher take cover. I ran forward and saw Mara, so I tossed the cereal to her. "Hi mom! Bye mom!" I ran past her as I heard the kid and his Gabumon chasing us. "Arthur! Where are you?!" I ran down an aisle quickly and skidded at the end, going down a corner as a security guard ran past me. "That way! Gabumon!" His partner looked at me as I looked around, panting. "You see a kid in a… A black hoodie with a blue ball cap?" He slowly pointed to the exit, but Arthur ran in with Baffle. "Thanks." I ran to Arthur and jumped up, and he caught me while I took Baffle.
"How'd this start?" He asked.
"Jerk just, grabbed my neckerchief, threatened me, so I ran." I said. "I'll just use, Badda-Boom Shots." He nodded as the first security guard ran out of the aisle and Arthur tossed me up, and I landed on a checkout conveyor. "Pardon me." I took aim as the Gabumon slid to a halt, along with the boy. "Now you two chill out! I didn't do anything to bother you!"
"All Viruses are evil!" Gabumon called. I made a fist.
"You Digivolve into a virus!" I said angrily. "Idiot!" He growled as I focused the flame. "Either chill out or just leave!"
"You tell him, Mao!" Mara called from where she was.
"If I turn into a Virus, I won't be evil!" Gabumon called. I stomped.
"You, friggin' idiot!" I yelled. "That just means not all Viruses are evil!"
"Could you be any more thickheaded?!" Arthur asked quickly. Gabumon looked at him and opened his mouth.
"Badda-Boom Shot!" I called, pulling the trigger. The reddish fireball hit him in the gut, pushing him back but not hurting him. "Wanna try for another? These don't use bullets."
"We'll get you for this!" The boy called. He ran toward the exit and Gabumon chased him, and Arthur nodded, so I took aim.
"Badda-Boom Shots!" I called, firing repeatedly. Each shot popped after them, not damaging anything as they ran, covering their backsides from close flames.
"Sir, Digimon, we'll have to take you with us for security reasons." A security guard said. I holstered Baffle. "We'll review the tapes, and if you started this…" I looked at him as he pointed at me. "You're banned from the store."
…
I rolled out of my hammock and landed softly, yawning quietly as I walked across the room carefully. I was thirsty, so I went toward the kitchen. But when I got in, the light came on. I covered my eyes and looked up to see Scott, in his Angemon form.
"What's up, besides us?" I asked tiredly. He pushed a glass of water forward. He was sitting at the table. I climbed up on the chair and looked at the glass before slowly taking it and drinking a little water.
"Mao, I've got an issue that, I'd like to clear up." He said, anger barely hidden behind the calm tone. I nodded as I set the glass down. "I told you not to play the hero. While I'm glad you're alright, you should have stayed down. I was going to save Daisy. You should have just stayed in that, X form, and recovered."
"It's not like I could totally control myself." I said honestly. "When I changed, something just, made me stand up. Then it made me walk forward, taunt the Dorumon, and then… Grab Baffle and put the Rookies down. I don't know what happened. I just, did it, and passed out." He was silent for a moment.
"So, when you use that state, you can't truly control yourself." He said. I noted the way that it was a statement, not a question, like he had an answer that he wanted, though not the right one.
"Not like, one hundred percent, but I knew kind of what I was doing." I said. "I just, wanted to protect my friends. Shooting the DemiDevimon and Dorumon, were the end result." I shrugged.
"What if you transform again and suddenly, lose the distinction between friend and foe?" He asked. "If you were mad at me when you used the X Vaccine data to change, would you attack me because of it?"
"No." I said. "W-well… I… I don't know. At this point, there's no way to test it. I can only use it for two minutes anyway, and you're a Champion. You're faster, stronger, and you can fly. Even changed, I doubt I'll suddenly gain more speed than you. Even with the Optimizer, I could probably just manage to match your land speed, your physical strength and a little more, and maybe use my Lasso to try to misdirect you or tie up your wings." He grunted quietly. "But I wasn't trying to play the hero. I just… No one expected that change, Scott. It was just… It was a fluke, luck that it was a Dorumon that Arthur scanned. If he hadn't, then, I'd be dead right now." His expression softened somewhat. "Think about it, if I hadn't suddenly used the X transformation, I would have probably bled to death. I would have been on the ground, bleeding, while that Dorumon might have been able to shoot Daisy, or one of our Tamers. It was luck, and I will happily be the first to admit that, because I'm glad I've got this new data and saved Daisy's life…"
"Just, be careful with it." He said. "You're not a Champion, and you're not invincible." I nodded. "Leave the Champions to me when possible. I'll take whatever help you can give me, just don't push it."
"You've got my word." I said.